tolman



C. P. TOLMAN.

GENTRIFUGAL SEPARATOR.

, APPLICATION FILED APR-2,1917. 1,358,897.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES NT OFFICE.

CHARLES P. TOLMAN, OF NEW ROCHELLE, NEW YORK, AQSIGNOR, TO NATIONAL LEADCOMPANY, OF NEW' YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEVI JERSEY.

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Application filed April 2, 1917.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES P. ToLMAN, a United States citizen, residingNew Rochelle, New York, have invented the following describedImprovements in Centrifugal Separators.

The invention consists in the structure and mode of operation ofapparatus operating 1 through the effect of centrifugal action toseparate the heavier and lighter components of fluid mixtures, such forexample as the white lead and the water in the material commerciallyknown as lead pulp and also for separating slimes and other similarmixtures of materials of different specific gravities. The object of theinvention is to produce apparatus of the character indlcated capable ofseparating a continuous supply of the material stated, automatically andwith substantial uniformity as respects the thoroughness of theseparation, and under control while in action, and which isspecially'adapted for operation on material which is sticky when moistas in the case of lead pulp. The invention however also includes detailsand incidental features which are capable of use in improvement uponpreviously known centrifugal separators and these are hereinindependently claimed in such broader relation,

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of a preferred embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 a horizontal section on line ill-11; and

Fig. 3 a section on line III- 111.

The machine comprises a separating cham ber formed of relativelyseparable chamber sections shown in the present case as a lower section1 and an upper or cover section 2,

providing within and between them an interior separating space intowhich the material to be separated is introduced and in which theheavier or solid materials, by flowing toward the region of widestdiameter under the centrifugal effect crowds the sections apart andthereby forces an escape through the annular peripheral outlet thusopened, while the lighter material not subject to the same degree ofcentrifugal pressure flows out through one or more exits disposed inwardof the peripheral outlet. A. yielding force or spring tends to close theoutlet between the sections to produce an initial centrifugalaccumulation of the Specification 01' Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 16, 1920. Serial No. 159,085.

tion of the solid, without passing any considerable part of thelightermaterial along with the heavier.

The rotary motion is imparted to the ma terial through the lower section1 which is bowl shaped with sloping side walls, the slope of which ismore or less steep according to the material treated. The said sectionis carried by an upright rotary shaft 3, journaled in a substantialframework i and driven by a belt gearing 3 from a drive shaft 5 at oneside of the framework.

The material is supplied to the bowl chamber through the shaft 3 whichis hollow for that purpose, and enters the shaft preferably at its upperend and through a stationary inlet connection head 6 with which theupper part of the shaft makes a leak-tight connection as indicated inthe drawing. The conduit through the shaft opens in one or more holes 7which are 10- cat-ed at the narrow or bottom part of the chamber section1, so that the constituent materials may have an opportunity to separate, undisturbed from the incoming liquid, while rising in the bowlchamber toward the outlets, both of which are near the top of thechamber.

The upper chamber section 2 is constituted, in the present case, of anessentially flat or disk form cover member adapted to fit tightly on theflanged margin 8 of the lower section and provided with a sleevedbearing 9 on which it may slide on the vertical shaft 3 to open theperipheral outlet. This cover member is urged in the direction to closesuch outlet by its gravity in the present case, and also by the pressureof a thrust sleeve 10 contained within its upstanding tubular boss andthrusting thereon through a hearing which permisthe rotation of thechamber section. A ball thrust bearing is used for this purpose and iscontained within the cover section 2 where it is least likely toaccumulate dirt. The thrust sleeve extends above the boss where itcarries, on its flanged head, a ring 11 the trunnions 12 of thesections,

which are engaged by a lever structure 13 fulcrumed on the frame at 14:and extending to one side of the frame where it is connected to one endof the spring 15, the other end of which is connected to the frame bythe spring adjustment devices 16. The spring 15, which may beassumed torepresent any suitable and controllable force, exerts its pressurethrough the lever and thrust sleeve upon the cover member 1 tending toclose it against the centrifugal pressure of the chamber contents actingon the under side of it and by virtue of the rotary bearing the saidclosing pressure so exerted, can be varied while the cover section is inrotation.

The cover section 2 is rotated in the present case, independently of thebowl section, and-by means of a belt and belt pulley 17 which latterconstitutes the upper part of or a continuation of the tubular boss ofthe cover member. The belt drive for the cover section allows it toslide upon the shaft 3 quite the same as if the cover section weresplined to it, but the independent drive affords the advantage of adifferential rotary motion between the chamber sections which isdesirable in the case of the materials heretofore indicated and whichserves to preserve uniform conditions of outflow at all points aroundthe peripheral outlet between The pulley diameters in the drawings willbe seen to give a higher rotation to the cover than the bowl section butof .course the differential rotation of one section with respect to theother or to the contents of the chamber may be obtained in other waysand with the same effect. The outflow from between the chamber sectionsis retarded, relatively speaking by the eX- tent of the frictionalsurface constituting the escape orifice of theoutlet and it is desirableto extend such surfaces radially in order to increase the frictionalresistance to outflow; by forming the flange 8 on the rim of the lowersection. The upper surface of thisflanged rim and the correspondingsurface on the movable cover may be of greater radial dimension, thanindicated in the drawings and as wide as found best for the particularmaterial in treatment. p

The centrifugally discharged heavier material, escaping through theannular outlet between chamber sections is caught in an annularreceptacle 18 surrounding the flange 8 and opening inward or toward theaxis of the chamber and this receptacle is mounted on rollers 19 orotherwise supported so that it may be rotated around the,separatingchamberbymeans of its gear teeth 20 and a slow pinion 21, thelatter being understood to be appropriately driven from the power shaft5 by a gearing not necessary to be shown. The frame bracket 22 carries afixed scraper 23 engaging the traveling collector trough 18 at a fixedpoint and evacuating its contents into a dc livery chute or othersuitable conveyor 24:.

The outlet for the separated lighter components of the treated mixtureis at the top of the separating chamber near the hub part 9 andrepresented by a series of open holes 25 in the cover. The lightermaterial flows upwardly through these holes into and across the basin 26formed in the upper surface of the cover section and oil the lip 27 ofsaid basin into the annular collecting chamber 28 which is or may bestationary and surrounds the cover section immediately above thereceptacle 18 for the heavy material. This receptacle is provided withan off-take 29. In the case of the illustrated machine it is assumedthat the upper chamber section is to be rotated at a sullicient velocityto discharge the lighter liquid across the gap between the lip 24' andthe trough or collecting receptacle 28, and the margin of the saidsection is curved or shaped in a suitable way to minimize leakage atthis point and under all positions of separation of the chambersections.

The operation of the apparatus will be understood to be subject tovariation according to the material treated and to be supplemented bysuch additional appurtenances as may be necessary to im iart a properrotary velocity to the said material irrespective of whether one or bothchamber sections rotate with it or at the same velocity, it beingpreferable that the rotary velocity of the material at the peripheraloutlet be constant so that the regulation of discharge of the heaviermaterial may be elfectcd solely through the adjustment of the closingpressure. It will be apparent that the only force tending to open theperipheral outlet is the interior centrifugal pressure of the chambercontents and that, within the capacity of the apparatus, such openingcan be resisted to various extents by the adjustment of the spring so asthereby to controlthe degree of separation of the l ightcr from theheavier components, and that such adjustment when properly coordinatedwith the control of inflow through the inlet head 6 will permitcontinuous separation of a continuous supply. The invention is notlimited to the differential rotation of the chamber sections becauseequal velocities may be used effectively on some materials,

nor is it confined to any particular shape of the separating chamberalthough the relatively deep chamber giving an opportunity for a wellestablished upward flow therein during separation is most satisfactoryand most effective. The depth of the chamber allows a time interval forscpu ation which may be increased by increasing the depth of the chamberrelatively to its diameter while maintaining the general flow from oneend llli essee";

'mulation of the heavier material and the relative rotation in thestructure shown due to the differential drive of the two parts of thechamber, is of material importance to prevent clogging of the orifice.

It should be stated in conclusion that the drawings hereto are mainlyillustrative of the best mode in which 1 have contemplated applying theprinciples of my invention at the present time, and that the invention1s not limited in respect tothe size, proportion, structure or relativearrangement of the parts and various reversals, modification, additionsto and subtractions from the said structure may be made within the scopeof the following claims.

1 claim:

1.. A centrifugal separator comprising a separating chamber formed ofsections adapted to separate under centrifugal action against a forcetending to close them together and by their separation to open aperipheral annular outlet between them for the escape of heaviermaterial, and further provided with an outlet for lighter materialinward of said peripheral outlet, in combination with means forcontinuously supplying the material to be separated to the chamber, andmeans whereby the rela- -tively separable chamber sections are rotatedat different speeds.

2. A centrifugal separator comprising a separating chamber formed of abowl section and a cover sectiomthe cover section being automaticallymovable away from the bowl section to open a peripheral annular outletat the top of the separating chamber and having another outlet towardthe center, and means whereby the bowl and cover sections are rotated atdifferent speeds.

3. A centrifugal separator comprising a separating chamber formed of abowl section and a dish-like cover section between which the heaviermaterial escapes through a peripheral annular outlet, said cover sectionhaving one or more openings in its in ner portion for escape of lightermaterial, and means for rotating said sections at different speeds.

4. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of chamber sections, anaxial sup port whereon said sections aremounted and are relativelyseparable under centrifugal action to open a continuous unobstructedperipheral outlet between them for the escape of heavier material, theupper section having an outlet for lighter material inward of saidperipheral outlet, coaxial means for pressing the chamber sectionstogether, and means for rotating the sections at different speeds.

5. In a centrifugal separator, the combination of a central shaft,rotatable bowl and cover sections thereon, the cover section beingvertically movable on the shaft to open a peripheral outlet for heaviermaterial and having an outlet toward the center for lighter material,and means including a thrust sleeve encircling the shaft and bearingupon the cover section for imparting a yielding pressure thereto.

6. A centrifugal separator comprising a bowl section and a cover sectionbetween which the heavier material escapes through a peripheral annularoutlet, said cover section having a central upstanding tubular boss andone or more escape openings for lighter material between said boss andthe peripheral outlet, and means for applying yielding pressure to saidtubular boss.

7. A centrifugal separator comprising a separating chamber formed ofchamber sections relatively separable against a force tending to closethem together and adapted by their separation to open a peripheralannular outlet between them for escape of heavier material and providedwith an outlet for lighter material inward of said peripheral outlet, incombination with a conduit supplying the material to be separated tosaid chamber means for imparting adequate rotary motion to said materialto cause it to open said peripheral outlet, a rotary collectingreceptacle for said outlet and a stationary scraper cooperating withsaid receptacle to deliver the accumulation thereon.

8. A centrifugal separator comprising a rotary separating chamber havinga peripheral outlet for heavy material and an outlet inward thereof forlight material, in combination with a rotary receptacle concentricallysurrounding said chamber to collect the heavy material and means forevacuating said receptacle.

9. A centrifugal separator comprising a separating chamber of relativelyseparable chamber sections between which the heavier material escapesthrough a peripheral annular outlet, one of said sections having one ormore openings for escape of lighter material, and means for rotating oneof said sections relatively to the other.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

GHARLES 1. TOLMAN.

